2026 Head-to-Head Audit • US Market

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
vs
OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa®

Q: Should I choose Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa®?

Choose Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card if you prioritize Very affordable $95 annual fee. Choose OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa® if you prioritize No hard credit pull means zero risk to your existing credit score.

Q: What is the biggest catch with Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card vs OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa®?

For Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, the main trade-off is: Lacks airport lounge access. For OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa®, watch out for: Requires a minimum $300 deposit ($100 higher than most secured cards).

Skip the marketing fluff. Below is the side-by-side breakdown of fees, yield/rewards math, fine-print restrictions, and the exact household profile each product is built for.

Choose Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card If...

The best entry-level travel card, featuring a low fee, huge sign-up bonus, and incredible point value.

Very affordable $95 annual fee
$50 hotel credit drops effective fee to $45

Primary Catch: Lacks airport lounge access

Choose OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa® If...

No credit check required to apply with $0 annual fee and reporting to all 3 credit bureaus.

No hard credit pull means zero risk to your existing credit score
Guaranteed consideration even with past bankruptcies, foreclosures, or charge-offs

Primary Catch: Requires a minimum $300 deposit ($100 higher than most secured cards)

Metric / Feature	Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Chase ★ 4.7 / 5.0	OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa® Capital Bank, N.A. ★ 4.7 / 5.0
Verified 2026 Financials & Terms
Annual / Platform Fee	$95	—
Annual Fee	95	$0
Regular APR / Rates	21.49% - 28.49% Variable	29.99% Variable APR
Welcome Bonus / Match	60,000 Bonus Points	—
Foreign Transaction Fee	0%	3% of each transaction
Credit / Eligibility	Good to Excellent (690+)	No Credit Check Required (Any Score)
Core Features & Ecosystem Perks
Included Benefits	Points worth 25% more in Chase portal $50 Annual Hotel Credit 1:1 Point Transfers to Partners Primary Rental Car Coverage No Foreign Transaction Fees	No Credit Check to Apply $0 Annual Fee Reports Monthly to Equifax, Experian & TransUnion Graduation Pathway to Unsecured Card Instant Online Application Decision
Editorial Pros & Cons
Where It Wins (Pros)	Very affordable $95 annual fee $50 hotel credit drops effective fee to $45 Transferring points to World of Hyatt offers massive value Primary rental car insurance is rare on a sub-$100 card	No hard credit pull means zero risk to your existing credit score Guaranteed consideration even with past bankruptcies, foreclosures, or charge-offs $0 annual fee on the Plus version eliminates carrying costs Reports to all three major bureaus every billing cycle
Fine-Print Drawbacks (Cons)	Lacks airport lounge access No multiplier for in-store grocery shopping Subject to Chase's strict 5/24 approval rule	Requires a minimum $300 deposit ($100 higher than most secured cards) 3% foreign transaction fee on international purchases No rewards or cash back program

Fee & Foreign Spend Cost Audit

Annual Holding Cost & Overseas Trip Impact

Annual Fee Comparison

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: $95 vs OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa®: $0

Always subtract the annual fee from your projected annual rewards before evaluating headline multipliers.

$3,000 International Vacation FX Surcharge

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: $0 fee (0%) • OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa®: $90 fee (3% of each transaction)

A 3% foreign transaction fee wipes out 3% in rewards on every international hotel, restaurant, or flight billed in foreign currency.

In-Depth Breakdown: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card vs OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa®

1. How Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Works

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the gold standard entry-level travel credit card. With a low $95 annual fee, it unlocks access to Chase's premium transfer partners (like Hyatt and United) and gives you a 25% boost in point value when redeeming through the Chase travel portal. It features best-in-class primary rental car insurance and excellent trip delay protections.

2. How OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa® Works

The OpenSky Plus Secured Visa is designed for consumers who have experienced severe financial hardship, bankruptcy, or who have no US credit history and cannot risk a credit check rejection. Because OpenSky does not pull your credit report to make an approval decision, applicants with any credit score (or none at all) can open an account, provide a refundable deposit, and start reporting positive payment history immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I choose Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa®?

Choose Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card if you prioritize Very affordable $95 annual fee. Choose OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa® if you want No hard credit pull means zero risk to your existing credit score.

What is the biggest catch with Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card vs OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa®?

With Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, the main limitation to keep in mind is: Lacks airport lounge access. With OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa®, the primary trade-off is: Requires a minimum $300 deposit ($100 higher than most secured cards).